Tuesday, August 1, 2017

28: Vault 6

Subject of Inquiry #1:

Believes herself to be cooperative yet appears to have inability to understand line of questioning. It is not my belief that Subj #1 is impaired mentally. Emotionally is a possibility. Subj #1 displays tendencies consistent in language barrier yet appears to have perfect fluency. We know who Subj #1 is. We know where she comes from. We know where she’s been. We even know what she’s been doing: Searching for a lost relative.

Among the Monotooths!!

Why? Was this relative abducted? This line of questioning produces no leads. Subj #1 doesn’t seem to know. Or understand. Subject #1 had given up search when we picked her up. Mental state is broken, defeated, has given up. Not assets for inquisition. Transferred primary focus to…

Subject of Inquiry #2:

Found within our own compound. Trying to reach out to Subj #1. Former companion. Shipmate and only other known survivor of [omitted], lost with all hands at Sea last year to apparent Fever outbreak. Petty criminal and beggar now. Knows much more than he’s telling. Has no language barrier or emotional damage. So far, very resistant to succeeding stages of inquiry. Possible true believer symptoms. High level of emotional attachment to Subj #1. Perhaps if Subj #2 believed Subj #1 were threatened. Do not believe Subj# 1 to be emotionally attached in same way to #2.

Major Nakba stood up and stretched. Enough paperwork. It was time to get personally involved again. This was taking too much time. Someone had deliberately poked the Monotooth nest. He needed to know why.

“Dustin,” he called to his aide as he passed the lieutenant’s desk, “Have Subject One brought over from the box to Vault 6. It’s time to try something different here.” He himself went directly to Vault 6. It was a pod meant to be used as an ammo dump, designed to contain explosions if the worst happened and keep out the unauthorized so it made a very convenient prison cell when empty. Noises on the inside, stayed inside. People put inside, stayed inside. He rounded the corner of a barracks container and saw Vault 6.

The guard wasn’t at the door. The door was open! He ran the rest of the way but as soon as he saw it, he skidded to a stop. The door wasn’t open. It was ripped off its track.

The vault had been forced! The vault had been forced? What could do that? One of the heavy recovery vehicles?

A person appeared at the doorway. A very small person carrying a bloody bundle of person nearly half again her size. She saw him.

“Major. One requests medical treatment for One’s Guide.”

How the hell?? Never mind! Focus! Promise her anything. Keep her talking until the cavalry showed up. Dustin will be sounding the alarm as soon as he gets to the box and sees she’s escaped. “Of course. Whatever you need.”

“One thanks the Major.” She turned to go, a child came out of the vault behind her and they both started walking toward the gate.

“Whoa, whoa, where are you going?”

“One is going to seek medical attention for One’s Guide.”

“The Medipod is this way.”

“One does not trust medical attention administered by those who caused the damage.”

“We’ll take good care of him. I promise.”

“One believes the Major is insincere but thanks the Major for the offer. One will seek immediate attention in Aedlin.” She turned to go again.

He moved to cut her off. “I can’t let you leave. You know that.”

She stopped walking and looked him in the eye. “One regrets the Major’s decision and apologizes.”

The last thing Major Nakba thought he heard was the child’s muffled laughter.